Hello Everyone!
Welcome back to Spring 2022! It’s a cold and snowy day on campus as I write this message. From my window I can see the trees beginning to turn white as I watch the plows clearing the parking lots, making room for students, faculty, and staff to return on the first day of the term. It always strikes me, particularly on days like today, that we officially, yet somewhat ironically, begin Spring term in January – when the typically blustery days of winter are at their height. But it is spring nonetheless.
Like spring, the new semester brings with it the hope of growth, of light, and of better days ahead. It carries the promise that the cold, cloudy days will give way to warm sunsets, bright skies, and the open freedom of the outdoors. On your academic journey, spring semester also brings a promise – you are one more season into your career goals, your future plans, the promise of things to come as a result of the hard work and dedication you have shown by putting your education first – for your own benefit, but also for the benefit of your families and the community that surrounds you.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all on campus this semester. Although COVID continues to march across the world, on our campus, our cases are low and the safety measures we have put in place have continued to hold. Wearing masks, getting vaccinated and boosted, staying home if you are sick, and continuing to follow other guidelines from health officials will keep us all safe. Please remember that IU constantly updates its protocols for COVID, and I encourage you to regularly keep up with the information on the IU COVID website, as well as the What If site, which provides helpful information if you suspect you may be ill, test positive for COVID, or are in close contact with someone who is diagnosed with the virus.
I am wishing you all well as you begin this new semester. I hope that it is one that is full of learning, engagement with scholars and the local community, and growth. As we all approach the term with a sense of compassion, camaraderie, and commitment, may the memories you develop from your experiences during Spring 2022 warm and sustain you for a long time to come.
With Care,
Hope Smith Davis, Ed.D.
Dean
School of Education
IU South Bend